The Irish spaw, being a short discourse on mineral waters in general with a way of improving by art weakly impregnated mineral waters ... / by P. Bellon ...

The Irish spaw, being a short discourse on mineral waters in general with a way of improving by art weakly impregnated mineral waters ... / by P. Bellon ...

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Title page

TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE JAMES Duke of ORMOND, Lord Lieutenant OF IRELAND.

THE IRISH SPAW; With a short Discourse on Mineral Waters in general, &c.

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THE IRISH SPAW; BEING A Short Discourse on MINERAL WATERS in general. WITH A Way of Improving by Art weakly impregnated Mineral Waters. AND A brief Account of the MINERAL WATERS at CHAPPEL-IZOD near Dublin. With Directions for the Taking of Mineral Waters, either strong, weak, by themselves, or with Additions. By P. Bellon, Dr. in Physick.

Dublin Printed by J. R. for M. Gunne at the Bible and Crown in Castlestreet, and Nat. Tarrant at the King's Arms in Corn-Market. 1684.

TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE JAMES Duke of ORMOND, Lord Lieutenant OF IRELAND.

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May it please Your Grace,

SPrings tend not more naturally unto their center, then this Discourse to Your Grace, through whose courteous Invitation [Page] I have left my native Soil, to end the remainder of my days, in the Service of my most Gracious King, in this his Kingdom, under Your Graces Favour and Protection. This Nation, my Lord, which is so sensible in its whole and in each individual parts of those vast and innumerable Benefits and Advantages which it has receiv'd from the benign'd influences of your Graces wise, prudent, and most politick Government, that in a due sense of Gratitude [Page] sends up its daily Prayers to Heaven for Your Graces Preservation.

That I might not remain useless during my stay in this City, till Your Grace were pleas'd to appoint me a fix station, where I might be most serviceable in my capacity, I thought it convenient to employ my hours of leisure in some particular, which might tend to a general good.

The Crudities of the River [Page] Waters in these parts might have been a proper Theme to insist upon: but it requiring peradventure a further Scrutiny then the spare time which I may enjoy here would permit me to enter upon; I diverted my thoughts on a Spring of Mineral Waters, at a small distance from this place, the Subject of this Discourse.

Be pleased, my Lord, to protect, these few Sheets under Your Graces Favour, together with their Subject [Page] the Spring by encouraging the search after some other Head, so much elevated above this, as may place it beyond the encroachment of common Waters on its Prerogatives; that amongst all the wonderful goods and advantages which this Nation has receiv'd at Your Graces Hands, there may be added Your Graces miraculous production of a Spring of Health, from the midst of insalubrious Waters.

[Page] If in this first attempt, I am so happy as to please Your Grace, I have my end, which shall never presume beyond the bounds of being

(May it please Your Grace)

Your Grace's Most obliged, most humble, most obedient Servant, P. Bellon.

THE IRISH SPAW; With a short Discourse on Mineral Waters in general, &c.

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HAving been informed that neer unto this City there is a Spring of Mineral Waters, of which divers persons have drank [Page] with good success, as to the Cure of some particular Diseases; I thought this a fit Subject on which to entertain my thoughts during my stay in this City, in order to discover its particular Virtues and Use, by the anatomising of its parts, and by a Chymical examination of those Metals & Minerals, from whence it derived its Virtues.

In this design I transported my self upon the adjacent places to this Spring, and there examin'd the Soil, Situation, distance from fresh and salt Waters, its Sediment in the Spring, the most proximate Hills. Next I considered the Water it self, its Colour, [Page] Odour, Tast, Brightness, Weight, and Softness; and what Skin, Film or Skum it did afford on the superficies.

Having made some immediate observations on all these circumstantial accidents, I applied my self unto such persons as might give me, what further observations they could, as to the Strength of the Water, when it was first found, the causes and proportions of its Decay, and its Effects, both internal and external.

To this I added those observations which I made during the divers tryals and examinations, which are usually [Page] performed with Galls, Oak-leaves, Oaken-vessels, Allum, Spirit of Harts Horn, distill'd Vinager, Oil of Vitriol, Oil of Tartar, mixing, heating, and boyling of it with Milk, and the like; All which tryals standing good (though weak) but having no effect at all on Milk. In the next place I entred upon the more judicious and Philosophical way of examination, by Fire, after a more particular method then is common, whereby the Gass Silvester, or wild volatile Spirits are so preserv'd that Judgment may pass upon them, as well and with as much advantage as on those more gross and terrene parts, which are rendred visible, not only [Page] through common Distillation, but by Precipitation also. By these examens I was inform'd of the Minerals with which it was imbued, though not to that degree that I could wish, through its late mixture with common Waters.

Having found that though this Mineral Water is tinged with such Minerals as other efficatious Mineral Waters are, yet in so small a proportion as would not raise any great hopes of success in the Cure of obstinate chronical Diseases, but that like unto other weakly impregnated Mineral Waters in other parts, it would require some Stimulator, to add more virtue unto [Page] its weakness; I thought it convenient to give here a short account of Mineral Waters in general, to mention the inconveniencies which usually attend weakly imbued Waters, and to offer at the means to supply those defects, and to render them not only equal to the most powerful natural Mineral Springs, but even to surpass them. Which I will endeavour to perform with the greatest brevity that I can possible, considering the large extant of this Subject; after which I shall fall upon this particular Water, which is the Theme of my Discourse.

That there is a universal [Page] Spirit, or Spiritus mundi, which God hath established for the continuation of the Species, which Spirit gives a life to all beings, is a truth long since agreed upon by the Learned; but how, and through what conveyers, this Spirit is communicated, and distributed into every individual being, is that point unto which I would come as neer, as this Subject does require, without amplification.

Springs have been placed and appointed by a Divine Providence, in the Earth, for the same use, as is the Air, on the surface of it, to be the Vehicles by which this universal Spirit of the World [Page] should be communicated to all the parts thereof; yet with this difference, that whereas in the Air that uncontroled Spirit acts more in its purity; in the Waters it is attracted by matter, and so becomes adherent to it.

The chief attracting matter of this Spirit, is by the Philosophers esteemed to be Vitriol, in which is contained that subtle acid Juice of the Earth, the sole cause of that universal Fermentation which precedes all natural productions; this its external Green and Azurine colours, its internal acidity and its magnetick property testifies; its Sulphur [Page] being that which attracts to it self the universal Spirit, that opens, unites, gathers and coagulates the subterraneous vapours, and forms them into Mineral and Metallick substances.

Without dispute Venus is most apparent in this Mineral; and therefore most ingeniously feigned (by those Poets that were Philosophers) to be the Principle or Mother of all natural production, which is manifested by its internal Redness; that generative Blood of Nature, with which she ferments all her Seeds, and of them produces such varieties of Minerals, Vegetables and Animals, according [Page] to the nature of their respective Matrix.

This animated Vitriol is dissolv'd in the Waters as they pass thorough subterraneous concaves, and thence distributed throughout the whole Globe, that from thence, all things might receive their being, nurture and conservation. But as these Waters in their progress, sometime do run through the veins and over the beds of Minerals and Metals, so they are more or less impregnated with the Medicinal properties of the said Minerals, according to the time of their stay upon them, and the compactness or flexibility of their Natures, [Page] whence arising to the surface of the Earth, they flow in continual streams of Health.

It was some reflections on this which gave occasion to a Philosopher to say, Fontes definire Arduum est, cum praeter aquam quam habent naturalem, & in sitam, Spiritum etiam habeant mundi, ex quo omnia producuntur cujus solius Fontes sunt delatores per universam Terram, ut hinc omnia desumant & esse suum, & alimentum, & conservationem. It is difficult, says he, to define Springs, which (beside their natural innated Water) have the Spirit of the world also, of which all things are produced, and preserved; the conducts of [Page] which Springs are throughout the whole Earth, that from thence all things may receive their being, nurture and preservation.

By what has been said it is easily conceived that Springs are not only of a bare simple Waters, but of such as are impregnated with a Spirit of power to work wonderful effects.

This Spirit (as we have said) is mixed and incorporated into every mix, which makes it yield with more facility to that Water which is impregnated with the same Spirit; so that thereby it attracts the Virtues out of the [Page] Minerals, and appropriates them to it self, which a simple and unspirited Water could not do, and then it may be thus defined.

A mineral Water is that which has its passages under ground, through the Veins of one or more, of crude, and sometimes digested Minerals or Metals, by which, through the assistance of that acid ferment which it carries along with it, it is first insinuated into, and then impregnated with some proportion of their Salt, Sulphur, or Mercury, in which three, all the qualities and virtues of every mix do reside. But above all they are tinged and imbued with [Page] the most fix of these three substances (yet of a dissoluble nature) namely the Salt, in which is contained, according to the opinion of the learned, the most essential qualities of every compound.

Mirum est certè amoris Divini symbolum maximum, &c. It is for certain a wonderful argument of the Divine Love (cries out a Philosopher) that in all the parts of the world there should be sound Springs endowed with such signal and admirable Virtues for the Cure of all Diseases! That God of Nature, who to manifest his infinite Love towards Man, has not only ordained an infinite number of [Page] Animals, Plants, Trees, and Minerals also, not to be reckoned, for the Cure of Diseases, but moreover hath commanded the Springs to pour out continual streams of Health in all parts.

But to give the Reader a farther inspection into the Constitution of a Mineral Water, I must say that in the family of Minerals, some are of a more easie and yielding nature then others, the more perfect, are the more fix, and not so easie to give their tinctures, such are Metals, amongst which Gold and Silver are the most compact, and concentred within themselves, Copper, Tinn, Lead and [Page] Mercury, more yielding, and Iron the least locked up of the seven, by reason of its abundance of crude and undigested Sulphur, which is not of power to secure the Salt from dissolution in the bare open Air, as the rust which is so constantly annexed to unhandled Iron doth daily testifie: But Minerals being of a less perfect existance then Metals; are therefore more yielding to any Menstruum or Liquor, in which they are immerged.

Now since that even from Metals may be expected a yielding tincture, full of virtue & power to cure some particular Diseases; Iron being dissolved [Page] with the most ease, though not esteemed by some of so cordial a Virtue as Gold and Silver, yet endowed with divers excellent qualities, it may reasonably be expected to be proper against most Diseases proceeding from obstructions, Iron being esteemed by all Authors, without contradiction, to be the most powerful opener of all Obstructions, in what part soever settled; wherefore I do prefer that Water which is impregnated with Iron before any other.

But all Mineral Waters are not impregnated alike, some more, some less, according as they are animated with the [Page] acid ferment beforemention'd, proportionable to the yielding or compactness of the Mineral they pass over, and answerable to their stay upon them; care must be had of chusing such Waters as are most impregnated, which may be known by these following marks.

Contrary to the best quality of common Waters, which consists in their lightness, the most heavy and ponderous, the most clear, of a dark greenish Colour, of an acid and brackish Taste, of a sulphureous Smell, and which is the easiest evaporated, is the best. For its weight denotes a good proportion in it of [Page] that which only gives weight to all things, namely Salts in general. Its clearness shews it free from heterogenious parts, except such as are annexed to all Waters, which in the Evaporation of them is found in the bottom of the vessel, not much unlike a slimy mudd, in looks, smell, and taste, as well as in consistency, in which (though of such a contemptible aspect) lurks the essential Salt. But how to order that Earth either before, during the Evaporations, and after, so as to extract that Salt without any detriment of its qualities, Hic Labor, hoc Opus. However I have found these terrestrial particles divested of the Salt, to be of a stiptick [Page] and astringent nature, which could not but retard the Virtue of the essential Salt, and sometimes create new Diseases in lieu of curing those already contracted, when the Water is overcharged with them, which does frequently happen when they are drank too soon after great showers of Rain, before they are perfectly settled and clear. Its dark Colour shews its Impregnation with a Vitriolick or Martial Salt, mixed with some Sulphur, which Sulphur is also denoted by its Odour. By its activity and aptness to be evaporated is more at large manifested the considerable proportion of the said essential Salt; which by his [Page] native heat, joined with that of the culinary Fire, the Humidity or Flegm is therewith the easier rarified. Besides these the dark green Colour which it receives from a competency of this Vitriolick Salt of Iron, is an infallible sign of a Water apt to yield a good proportion of that essential Salt, and consequently very medicinal.

Moreover, that Water which is rough to the Palate, which at the first relish discovers some acid, that terminates into a kind of an austere Bitterness of a bituminous Odour, that dyes the Excrements black, and sometimes the Urines of a greenish Colour, of [Page] an easie digestion, quick conveyance through the smallest vessels, though taken in a small quantity, is to be preferred.

But a Mineral Water so qualified in all respects, is not to be found in all places, in this our age, whither through that general decay of Nature, (which in the opinion of some is very remarkable) I shall not now insist upon; but thus much I here assert, that for want of such Waters, the sick are frequently obliged to make use of such as are less impregnated, which being not powerful to cure and eradicate formed Diseases, yet are generally known, and used [Page] with some success in the removing of recent Obstructions, and in preparing the Body for the reception of specifick Medicines, ordained by skilful Physicians, according to the nature of the Diseases. Which Waters might also be happily us'd in confirmed Diseases, were they not to be taken then in such large quantities (for want of sufficient Impregnation) to make them pass by the pressure of their own weight, from which there frequently follows an unusual extension of the Tunicles of the Stomach, and an extinction of its natural heat, from which two accidents do commonly proceed Hysterical Passions, Convulsions, Cramps, [Page] Palsies, Apoplexies, and the like, and sometimes immediate Suffocations, which Inconveniences by taking too large quantities of weakly impregnated Waters, I shall further insist upon from these four particulars, Quantity, Quality, Time and Place.

First as to Quantity. A Gallon of Water is the usual height, to attain unto any benefit by them, though sometimes six Quarts, nay two Gallons, have been devoured, which Quantities are usually taken within the space of an hour, or two, at the most; the half of this vast quantity to be contained at once, sometimes in a Stomach which has [Page] been debilitated, either by the violence or duration of the morbifick matter, the tedious persistance in a fruitless course of Physick, or both; disenabled from digesting and distributing a small proportion of a good Nutriment, much more incapable of dealing with such a large quantity of a crude Liquor, so that it frequently happens that the Waters remain in the Stomach, not passing at every fourth or fifth Glass, as might be expected, and consequently not to be voyded again but by Vomit, except (as I have already said) they be pressed down by their own burden (a very dangerous thing to trust to): For when they [Page] chance to go off so on a suddain, it is with such an impetuous course, that the weight and quantity meeting with some obstructions in the smaller vessels and passages, thereby are caused great Inflamations in the Meseraick Veins, Kidnies, Uriteries, Bladder, &c. with so great a dilatation of the Vessels, to force it self out, that Swounding Fits, Cold Sweats, and sometimes, without a singular suppliment of Nature, sudden Death has followed, notwithstanding the use of common Salt, carminative Seeds, mixtures of other Liquors with the Waters, taking of them in Bed, laying of warm Clothes and Down Pillows over their Stomachs, the [Page] use of Cream of Tartar, the heating of the Waters, and the like; which last renders them less, powerful, by the loss of their most subtle parts, which are thereby evaporated; the Waters remaining more crude and indigestible then before.

Secondly, if the Quantity is so nocent, well may the Quality. To have at once, in a weakned Stomach, the forementioned quantity of Water, in which the virtual substance doth not exceed the weight of six or eight grains, (all the rest being of a cold, raw, and undigestible nature) must needs be a wrack to our Nature, who is contented with a little.

[Page] Thirdly, the Sick are limited to such particular seasons of the year, wherein as the Proverb says, they must make Hey while the Sun shines, and frequently in the midst of their course, are impeded by some great fall of Rain, which mixing with the already too crude Waters, does instantly extinguish that small portion of Virtue which they had, and so are deprived for that time from all kind of Operation, by which accident the poor Patient is wholly disappointed of his hopes, and abandoned to the cruel tyranny of a conquering and merciless enemy.

Lastly. And here I must [Page] except these Waters, near so great a place of all manner of Accommodation, as is this City of Dublin, as well as others so advantagiously situated. I say, that there are no persons who have seen the great Inconveniencies which attend most of the places of drinking the Mineral Waters, but are already convinced of the great want of better Accommodations, I mean in reference to the poor, weak, languishing, sick Creatures, which Inconveniencies most chiefly happen by the great concourse of people where there is such a scarcity of Conveniencies. For sick persons being, at the best, fitted, not as their nice and peevish Humours [Page] would require, but as well as they can, though when in their own habitations, being transported to those cold and bleek, places, in danger of having added to their other Distempers, Colds, Coughs, Agues; in a word, exposed to all the injuries of a piercing Air, besides the stirring up of Humours, raising of Vapours, there confined into some scanted Cottage, streightned of such necessary Refreshments as are requisite for them, must of necessity prove, if well examined, more prejudicial in general, then those Mineral Waters can do good. I speak not of such whose plentiful Fortunes can render all places alike [Page] commodious to them, but of the generality.

Thus much as to Mineral Waters in general, and the many Inconveniencies which attend the taking of weak impregnated Waters. Now if such accidents do usually attend the use of weakly impregnated Waters, is it not a charitable act to endeavour the removing of all these forementioned impediments? It is well known that this has been already done in England and elsewhere; and no question but that it may be also performed in this Kingdom, in supplying the Weakness of these Waters, by joining unto a small proportion of them, [Page] the essential Salt extracted out of others more strongly impregnated Waters, of the same nature & operation with these. Whereby they will be rendred more powerful in their Operations, enabled to carry themselves through all Obstructions, and that, not by the violence of their own weight, but by gently insinuating themselves, and by their penetrating qualities, piercing through the most remote opilated and obstructed parts of the Body.

This, I humbly offer for the publick Good of this Nation, unto which I have been lately called, until I find some opportunity of being more [Page] serviceable. Namely, an essential Vitriolick Salt of Mars, extracted out of Mineral Waters, so far to be prefer'd before most of Mineral Waters, as a strong rectified pure Spirit of Wine before a weak flegmatick Brandy, or a Chymical Extraction before a meer Galenick Potage. For any person that is not prepossessed with prejudicate Opinions, against the scientifick Art of Chymistry, or too much byassed with his own Interest, but will confess upon tryal that this essential Salt, in which the Virtues of the Waters reside, being-first disengaged from that large proportion of Flegm, in which it lay drowned, and after [Page] mixed with a less proportion of the same or with some other idoneous Vehicle, will thereby be rendred, more convenient and easie to be taken, and received in the Stomach, and there once received, more powerful and active both in it self, and its commixture, to operate upon the peccant Ferment, to mix with the Chyle, and to be convey'd with more facility and quick dispatch, even to the most remote Digestions.

For this essential Salt is hot, piercing, searching, opening, and driving from the center to the circumference, by which Qualities it doth powerfully resist all putrid and indigested [Page] Humours, the results of evil Fermentations, which produce such a variety of Obstructions, in all parts of the Body, by attenuating with its piercing heat their viscous and tenacious parts, which choak up the small passages of the Veins, Arteries, and Nerves, by which the free and natural Circulation of the natural, animal and vital Spirits is impeded. By its dissolving quality liquifying and mixing it self with the crude Humours, and by its dilating faculty insinuating it self into the most remote and last Digestions, there aiding Nature to overcome whatsoever is offensive to her; nay, if timely taken, preventing [Page] all Obstructions, first caused by ill Digestions in the Stomach, which at such a time produces a viscous Flegm, in lieu of a laudible Chyle; for Errors in the first Digestion, are not rectified in the second or third. Thus Waters so qualified either in themselves, or through the addition and assistance of such a Salt, mix themselves with the natural ferment, aid and enable it to oppose, combat and suppress, all preternatural Fermentations, disingage the Stomach from all Crudities, cause the generation of a good Chyle, attend it to a perfect Sanquification, circulate with the Blood, and driving forth all serossities, and other impurities [Page] they are instrumental in the creation of quick and active Spirits; so that by these means they may with Justice deserve the glorious title of universal Restorers and Preservers, by cleansing, correcting and strengthening all the natural Faculties, which being vitiated are the Causes of all Diseases. And Natura corroborata est omnium Morborum medicatrix.

In the just Commendations of arightly impregnated Mineral Waters, I could enlarge my self at pleasure on every particular; but my intention being more to inform in the matter of fact, then to amuse with multiplicity of Notions, [Page] I shall conclude this part of my discourse, and proceed to the other, which has respect to the ways and methods of using them both, as to the prevention and the extirpation of Diseases.

I have said that all Diseases proceed at first from a deviation of the Functions of the Stomach: If therefore any persons are sensible of sick intervals, Weakness, Oppressions, Rawness, Gnawings, Burning in the Stomach, a dog-like Appetite, or a nauseating of Food, and the like; to intercept all Diseases that would follow, let them by way of prevention, suppress those evils in their buds with [Page] the use of Mineral Waters, in this following method.

First let them apply themselves to some learned able Physician, to have the Humours well prepared, according to the Constitutions of the Bodies; for that maxim Proemisis universalibus is always to be regarded. From the omission of this caution do ordinarily proceed all the errors, and ill consequences, which follow the unruly taking of any Mineral Water, though never so good, if you will add the faults of the Patients, and ill Diets, which is the bane of all the ill begun, and worse prosecuted, Cures.

[Page] According to the natural strength and vigour of the Waters you drink, or the proportion of essential Salt you add to them, so must your Doses be; and this learned by experience the first day.

Never begin to drink till the Sun be a little high, after the drinking of each Glass of half a pint, walk or ride moderately, till the Liquor begins to pass, either by stool or by urine; but those that are not able to perform either of those two exercises, are to be easily agitated in a Coach.

Increase daily by one Glass, till you come to two quarts, [Page] for strong and vigorous Bodies, which is the most that any must ascend to. When you are come to the tolerable quantity, stay in it during 8 or 10 days, according as you find your self able. When you are near bidding the Waters farewel, decrease for four or five days, till you come to your first proportion.

All that is to be drunk every day, must be done at the furthest within an hour.

When you walk or otherwise exercise, let it be moderately, resting by intervals, and use not a superfluous toil, which doth not awaken, but rather choak up [Page] Nature, and hinders the free Expulsion.

Put off your Dinner till you find that the best part of the Water is past, and to that purpose, when the Waters work only by Urines, as those of Tunbridge, you must measure your Urine in Glasses of equal dimensions to the former; but where the Waters work both ways, a sign that the most are passed, is when the Urine doth come again to its natural yellow Colour.

Let your Dinner be light, and your Supper lighter, of one or two sorts of Meats, at the most, young, tender, [Page] of easie Digestion, and good juicy substance, roasted, and not boiled. No Fruit, no Milk nor Cheese: no Veneson, Tarts nor Spices; no Fish. Use well baked White Bread, good middling Beer or Ale, clear, ripe, and well settled, and good French White Wine, or small Rhenish, as Baccarach. All mixtures of Drinks, and adulterated Wines are most dangerous.

You will do well to weigh your selves every morning before you drink, and after, to know what alteration there is made by Stools and Sweats, if you have any.

[Page] I forbear mentioning here any digestive Powders, Cordials, or the like, to fortifie the Stomach, because that having a Water sufficiently strong of it self, or made so by the addition of the essential Salt, it has heat sufficient in it self, to assist the Stomach withal.

Now a word to those that use weakly impregnated Waters (for want of better, or not having the essential Martial Salt) for the opening of slight Obstructions, and new found Distempers.

Let them consult their Physicians in order to have such digestive Powders and Cordials, [Page] in readiness, as will best suit with their Constitutions, to prevent all inconveniencies.

The ordinary Remedies are the use of Mace, Cardamome, Anise, Foenel and Caraway Seeds grosly beaten to powder, and mixed with four times as much of Loaf-sugar in powder, of which, they take half a spoonful after Meal; this for the digesting Powder. Their Cordials made of cold Mint and Balm-water, with a little Wormwood, Cardamome, Hot Waters, and sweetened with Syrup of Clove-July-flowers. They use also to take betwixt each Pinte Glasses some Anise or [Page] Caraway Comfits, Candied Orange-peels and the like.

The best way of mixtures or heating of the Waters is thus. First to mingle with the first and second Glass, one or two spoonful in each of pure rich Canary, secondly to have hard by the Well a Kettle full of Water with Fire under, to heat it, in which Kettle put divers Stone Bottles full of the Mineral Waters taken within the Well, very well stopped, and when the Water is moderately warm; take out of one quart Bottle but two Glasses at the most, leaving the sediment behind. Thirdly, they may be taken in bed, a little warm, [Page] bearing upon the Region of the Stomach a Down Pillow; when the whole quantity hath been taken, and by the warmth of the Bed, the Water begins to pass, then the Patient must go to his moderate exercise, of walking, riding on Horseback or in a Coach, according to the strength of the Body and his conveniency.

These and the like miserable shifts are such glad to use, which drink too weakly impregnated Waters.

To drink but few days the Waters of any sort, is to no purpose, the shortest time, if nothing intervenes is one [Page] month, if the Waters pass currantly, and the Patient find a good effect towards the romoval of some old chronical Disease, he may go further. By all means if Rainy weather comes forcibly leave off drinking, except you have at hand some of the essential Salt, to revive the Waters. And from the beginning after three or four days tryal, if the Waters remain in the Body, and are not voided, leave off.

Some persons are costive during the drinking of such Waters, as only purge by Urines; those, if they refuse Clysters, may take every third or fourth day Stomachal purging [Page] Pills, a quarter of an hour before Supper, as those de Ammoniaco, Mastichinae Fernellii, Stomachicarum cum Gum mis, de Hyera, or the like.

When arriv'd to the end of this task, to draw out of the Body all that might be lodg'd in the Veins, or elsewhere, one, two, or three Purgations, if needs be, are not to be omitted, which done, nothing remains, but every one to make much of himself, returning little by little to his ordinary manner of life, within the Rules of Art and Mediocrity.

Now to come to this particular Mineral Water, near [Page] to Chappel-Izard; I say in the first place, that as it is now situated, it is impossible to preserve it long in its puris naturalibus, and without some mixtures of common Waters by all the means imaginable. But with care and industry it may be traced unto the foot of the neighbouring Hill, some two or three yards high, from whence undoubtedly it proceeds, and there guarding it round with good strong Clay, then walling it in, and fixing a Bason over its rise, there it may be kept from all dangers, but a suddain fall of Waters, unto which inconveniences all Mineral Waters are liable. But so long as it remains on such a flat bottom, so near to [Page] a running stream, liable to be overwhelmed upon every glut of Rain, it will never be of any significant use, for the Cure of any chronicall Diseases, though it may succeed with some in the opening of slite recent Obstructions.

For though I deny not but that in divers places Mineral Springs have been overflowed through their proximity to Rivers, & low situations; and yet presently upon the retreat of the flouds have remained as strong and vigorous as before, by reason that the strongly impregnated Waters have kept them stations, by the weight which they received from their own Salts, not admitting, [Page] but of a very slight and superficial mixture, with the intruding Liquor; yet when other Waters break under ground in to the course of the Mineral Waters, and so roll together for some space, they are so mixed per minima, and so wholly enervated that no good can be expected from them.

Though I am not of a humour to content my self with Pythagoras his Scholars bare Ipse dixit, yet here I have been forced to take divers things upon trust, through the late accidental weakness of the Mineral Waters near Chappel-Izard. But as to what has fallen under my inspection, [Page] upon those tryals which I have made, thus much I can say, that when I mixed some Powder of Galls with it in a Glass, it turned purple; adding a little Alum, it turned blackish: Oak-leaves in powder have made it of a subrufus brown, which has turned blackish with a little distill'd Vinagre. With Spirit of Harts horn, I caus'd a white separation to be made with some little sulphurious or bituminous Odour, which was reduc'd again to its natural clearness, with some few drops of Oyle of Tartar. With Oak-leaves, or Galls being tinged, some few drops of Oyl of Vitriol have caused a separation of a black sediment. [Page] This Sediment being examined, proves to contain a Vitriolick Salt of Mars. Its being mixed with equall parts and boyled with Milk makes no alteration.

In the precipitation of it I have found a subtle Gass or sharp fume to arise somewhat sulphurious, which speaks it to partake also of Sulphur.

In the Distillation in close Glass vessels, it has afforded a small proportion of this acid wild Spirit, which has been turned red with powder of Galls that were placed in the Receiver.

In the bottom of the Glassvessel [Page] I found a black sediment, not much unlike mudd, out of which I have extracted some few grains of a Vitriolick Salt of Mars.

All which examinations and tryals make me conclude that this Mineral Water is imbewed with a slender proportion of Iron, Vitriol, Sulphur and Alum; which answers very properly to its effects, and to the Soil adjacent to it; and it is my opinion that it partakes of Nitre also, though I found none.

I have been credibly informed, that when it was first found out, it had over it a very thick scum of Rust, which [Page] denoted its passage through some Iron Mine, how remote from its rise, it matters not. It had under that scum, a thin skin or film, Cauda Pavonis, or Rainbow commonly called, for the variety of its Colours, which it borrowed either from the Sulphur of Mars, or of common Brimstone, which last I am more apt to believe, because that then it had a strong bituminous odour and taste.

No great observations can be made upon the Soil through which it passes; it is like unto most of the Earth about this place mix'd with small pieces of a glittering Stone, which, by chewing in [Page] my mouth I scaled so thin, that no Talk could be more finely split, nor yield a more glorious lustre and whiteness; this, and some small particulars of a kind of courser Talk, call'd Lapis Entalis, which Schroder mentions, together with a common grayish Sand, and a Dust of the same colour, is the compound of that Earth nearest to it, which would give me occasion not to despair of finding some Aluminous Mine, or Talk Veins in the neighbouring Hills, if some pains were taken about it.

The Qualities and Virtues of the Minerals wherewith this Water is impregnated, are these.

[Page] Mars, or Iron, is hot, dry, internally red, it consists of a double Mercury, burning and black, of a red Sulphur and an impure Earth. It is piercing, opening and corroborating; good against all Obstructions, debility of the Stomach, all Fluxes: it is an Alkali, therefore a great dulcifier of the Blood, &c.

Vitriol, there are divers sorts, and of various colours; it is commonly white, blue, and green; I have seen some in Poland that was yellow, and some red. It abounds in a combustible Sulphur, and a corrosive acid; it contains a sweet anodine Oyl, difficult to be had; it is internally [Page] red. It is stiptick, emetick, detersive, hot and drying: it partakes of the virtues of Mars and Venus; it is good against all Inflamations, especially of the Eyes.

Alum, of Alum there are divers sorts also, and divers comprehend Vitriol under the nature of Alum, of which it only differs in a metallick Sulphur; it is void of Tincture. Paracelsus does attribute the Names of Salts unto external Ulcers, according to the diversity of the congelations of Salts; if it is a red Ulcer, he calls it Vitriolick: if without redness, aluminous; and because there are divers sorts of Alum in respects of [Page] Tasts, and some that are wholly insipid, as the Alumen Entalis, plumosum, &c. There are likewise insipid tuberous Ulcers. It is stiptick, drying, cooling, coagulating, and dissolving; it most powerfully resists putrefactions, precipitates evil Ferments, allays the Inflamations of the Bowels, and stops a Gangraine.

Sulphur, it is called the Rosin, the Lungs of the Earth, the second acting principle, existant in mixt bodies: from it whatsoever is combustible either liquid or solid is called Sulphur, or sulphurious. There are two sorts, one that is combustible, and another that is incombustible. The combustible [Page] is that which is burnt, and yields no smoke, but is inflamable: The incombustible yields no flame, but remains fix and permanent: Sulphur is found either coagulated, or liquid, in the form of a Bitumen; as it is found in the Mines before it is separated by fusion from its earth it is called, Living. It differs from Vitriol only in the external form, and each may easily be transform'd into the other; therefore they have much the same qualities and virtues, only this last is more inflamable, and a particular friend to the Lungs.

Thus much as to the Nature of those Minerals that [Page] have embued these Waters, from whence may be gathered the reasons why it cures recent Obstructions, cleanseth the Reins, Uriters, and Bladder: aids Dropsical persons, cases the pains of the Gout and Rhumatisms, procures an Appetite, fortifies the tone of the Stomach, and corroborates the Visceras.

Now as to this essential Vitriolick Salt of Mars which I have mentioned, to be used to add strength and energy to those Waters that are but superficially embued with Mineral tinctures; it may seem strange to some persons, and I expect that some will be sound amongst the ignorant [Page] mobile, that will deride my Proposition; but Hos oblatrantes caniculos cum contemptu praetereo. I address my self to the learned only, and to them I further add, that besides the Extraction of this essential Salt from Mineral Waters, and the rejoyning of it to others of the same nature, or to its former Vehicle, in a larger proportion then before. I say, that of late days all Mineral Waters, either for drinking or bathing, have been by some ingenious Artists so exactly imitated, after some Philosophical Speculations used on the Natures of the natural Springs; nay, I may say, outdone, that by those factitious Mineral Waters, [Page] as great Cures have been performed in the Patients particular habitations, as any have been by the natural Springs upon the place; and what is more, the Artificial Baths brought to those several degrees of heat, as the natural ones have at the Baths, without the aid or assistance of any culinary fire; to which have been added all the other accidents, of Odours, Tasts, Colours, and of Tinging Silver into a curious Solar tincture. All which things were once pretended to, at the place which goes under the notion of the Dukes Balneo in Longaore, London: But how performed, I leave to all ingenious persons to judge, [Page] that have used those Baths, and drank of that Water. The Art of Chymy has a multitude of Well-wishers, as many pretenders to, and more that court her designedly: But ex quovis Ligno, non fit Mercurius. There are but few that make use of those two things which Galen reckons as necessary concurrants to the attaining the perfect Knowledge of Arts and Sciences, or the nature of any simple Medicine, viz. Experience and Reason, from which there arose in his time two Sects of Physicians, the one called Empiricks, the others Methodists. The Empirick did only observe the Operations and Effects of [Page] Medicines, and never troubled themselves concerning their Natures, or the reasons of those effects, but used all Medicaments promiscuously, to the prejudice of many. The Methodists were not satisfied with the bare finding out of the Virtues of Medicaments, but added to the OTI the ALOTI, diving into the Nature of the same. These he termed the two Legs of a true Physician, upon which he would have him to stand and walk.

It is an easie matter to pretend to things, and after the picking here and there some mouldy Receipts, and Terms of Art, to cant, especially in [Page] Chymy, before the unthinking multitude, but first to entertain Philosophical Notions, and then to reduce them unto Mechanical real Demonstrations, belongs but to a few. And now that my Reader may not put me in the number of the great Talkers and litle Doers, as to what I have in this Discourse proposed, I offer to produce, after a month or six weeks time, sufficient quantity of the Essential Vitriolick Salt of Mars, extracted from Mineral Waters, to supply this City, every season of drinking the Waters, or all the year long, at the same reasonable Rates that any true and genuine Essential Salt of Mars can be prepared. [Page] I could make larger proffers yet; but I forbear, lest it should be thought I were byassed by Interest, or blown up with Ostentation. The curious learned I shall ever be ready to serve, in giving them all the satisfactory Demonstrations that I can possible, in every particular which I have mentioned in this Discourse, or in any thing else that I am capable. Mean time, if they please to spend som hours in the Tryals of such Chymical Preparations as I have faithfully delivered to the publick in my Intruduction to the French Author, in a Treatise, called, A new Mystery in Physick, discovered by Curing of Feavers and Agues [Page] with the Jesuits Powder, printed for William Crook, at the Green Dragon without Temple-Bar, 1681. There they will find, wherewith to satisfie their Curiosity, till they command me further.

In meliorem partem interpretari debemus quae nobis dubia sunt.

[Page]

POSTSCRIPT.

I Had but just ended this precedent Discourse, when word was brought me, of a new Mineral Spring found, in the Road that leads to the first, near the Gate; I immediately went to examine it upon the place, and caused some of the Water to be brought home to me for further inspection. But after all sorts [Page] of Examens, I found these last much less impregnated then the others, though they participate of the same Minerals with the first.

In both a Vitriolick Salt of Mars predominates; they have so weake a tincture of Alum, that neither of them has the power to turn Milk, though for a long time boyled together in equal proportions, which speaks these Waters [Page] to be Alkalies, and consequently dulcifiers of Acids.

This last found Spring has, within less then a foot of it, another of fresh common Water, which peradventure does commix with it, and may be the cause of its weakness; and in my opinion, neither of these Waters can last long untainted, except care be taken to trace them, on some more [Page] eminent ground, where they may be secured from the insultations of violent Rains, Flouds, and Springs of common Waters.

To conclude, considering the visible decay of either of these Waters, though removed but to the City from their Springs, especially the last, which would scarce afford any Tincture at all with Galls, it were very requisite that [Page] these Waters should be drank upon the place. To which purpose I could wish there were better Accomodations and Conveniencies, sutable to the occasions of the more modest of the modest Sex.

To this purpose, if Rows of Tents were pitched on each side of the Green, proportionable to the concourse of people, and a large Walk left between, it [Page] would supply in some measure the natural conveniences, which a multitude of Shrubs & Bushes, besides some winding Dales betwixt close Hills, in other places of the like resort, do afford.

To which might be added, according to the laudable custom of Foreign Nations (which has been taken up of late in some parts of England also) the divertisement [Page] of Musick, Bowling, Pins, Lotteries, Shooting, or any other pastimes, to disingage the Mind from too serious or melancholick thoughts.

Ut sit Mens sana in Corpore sano.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

The Irish spaw, being a short discourse on mineral waters in general with a way of improving by art weakly impregnated mineral waters ... / by P. Bellon ...

Belon, P. (Peter)

Edition statement

1684

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A27372

ID [STC]

Wing B1852

ID [STC]

ESTC R14765

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12099576

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12099576

ID [VID]

54049

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A27372)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 54049)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 857:32)

Source

— The Irish spaw, being a short discourse on mineral waters in general with a way of improving by art weakly impregnated mineral waters ... / by P. Bellon ..., Belon, P. (Peter).

Extent

[8], 76 p.

Printed by J.R. for M. Gunne ... and Nat. Tarrant ...,. Dublin :: 1684.. (Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.)

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